This article is dead-on Re: Franklin

[SRD_PSU]

Poor coaching on full display as Penn State loses regular-season finale

James Franklin needs to do better. And to stop making excuses about facilities and everything else. Penn State is 11-10 over the past two seasons, and coaching issues have been a big part of the problem.

www.dkpittsburghsports.com

 

[Midnighter]

Poor coaching on full display as Penn State loses regular-season finale

James Franklin needs to do better. And to stop making excuses about facilities and everything else. Penn State is 11-10 over the past two seasons, and coaching issues have been a big part of the problem.

www.dkpittsburghsports.com

I agree with most of this (which is Giger trolling for the most part) but Yurcich being fired as bullet 1 is horseshit. MY has excelled and put up ridiculous offensive numbers everywhere he's been except - wait for it - Penn State. MY isn't is the problem. Not even close. Franklin is the problem and #1 with a bullet - everything else falls under this.

 

[ManassasPSU]

The entire offense woes start at the online and lack of development and or recruiting. Look at the RBs all highly touted yet I do not see their skill set that made them 4 star Recruits. Same with the online. Is Franklin recruiting off the recruiting sites. Is he a poor judge of how the talent translates to the next level? So many issues I am sure their are multiple problems from recruiting, player development,schemes and coaching that need to be fixed.

 

[loinfan01]

I think firing MY now would be a mistake. There has been a lot of criticism regarding the revolving door at OC and some stability might prove beneficial for the offense.

The program really needs to retool the offensive line, but I don’t see a quick way to make improvements with that group. I’m not enough of an X and O guy to know if the problems are scheme, talent, or coaching. Maybe the OC and Oline coach aren’t 100% in sync? Who knows.

Franklin needs to define his offensive identity and stop chasing the latest shiny trendy thing.

 

[Evan Ceg]

Totally disagree with Giger that Franklin should have gone for it on 4th and 1 from the PSU 47 after MSU scored its first TD.

 

[PrtLng Lion]

I don't think firing Yurcich is the answer. We've gone through how many OC's now in the last 7 years? And we still have the same woes of poor OL play, inability to run consistently, inability to convert 3rd downs, etc. Either CJF isn't letting the OC freedom to run the O they want, or he hires OC's whose philosophy matches his own.

That 4th down punt wasn't the 4th down play call that made me nearly lose my mind...

 

[Lmdm]

Get rid of the strength and conditioning coach. Compared to other teams, we match in size but not in muscle, strength and power. Whatever The lifting program is it is not working. Again, it falls on Franklin. He is here but heads have to roll.

 

[Nits74]

Larry Johnson should have been hired as the head coach in 2012. We wouldn't be witnessing the sort of crap we see now.

 

[CDLionFL]

Totally disagree with Giger that Franklin should have gone for it on 4th and 1 from the PSU 47 after MSU scored its first TD.

It was 4th and a foot. Franklin has gone for it in much riskier and dumber spots. If you can’t put Clifford under center and push forward (and an RB pushing from behind) and get that, you don’t deserve to win. He played not to lose in that scenario.

 

[NEPA Lion]

I agree with most of this (which is Giger trolling for the most part) but Yurcich being fired as bullet 1 is horseshit. MY has excelled and put up ridiculous offensive numbers everywhere he's been except - wait for it - Penn State. MY isn't is the problem. Not even close. Franklin is the problem and #1 with a bullet - everything else falls under this.

Mike Yurcich needs complete control of the offense, Franklin needs to stick to recruiting and logistics.

 

[PAgeologist]

I don't think firing Yurcich is the answer. We've gone through how many OC's now in the last 7 years? And we still have the same woes of poor OL play, inability to run consistently, inability to convert 3rd downs, etc. Either CJF isn't letting the OC freedom to run the O they want, or he hires OC's whose philosophy matches his own.

That 4th down punt wasn't the 4th down play call that made me nearly lose my mind...

I agree firing MY isnt the right move. He needs to be allowed to run his offense though. I just get the feeling Franklin brings in these guys and handcuffs them with the explosive play BS he is infatuated with. Just my opinion, but I think KC called Franklin out on this last year and was fired for it.

 

[loinfan01]

I agree firing MY isnt the right move. He needs to be allowed to run his offense though. I just get the feeling Franklin brings in these guys and handcuffs them with the explosive play BS he is infatuated with. Just my opinion, but I think KC called Franklin out on this last year and was fired for it.

I can see it on the sideline:

CJF: "Mike, we need an explosive play right now."
MY "James, I'm probing something I see the defense doing and we can hammer it in the next series or two."
CJF: "I said now. Don't make me go KC on you!"
MY: "Yes sir."



I get it, explosive plays are an important part of the game. They need to be organic and fit within the flow of the game. Not just "Hey, we haven't taken a shot in 8 plays, its time." Analytics can be great if you use them correctly. Are you more likely to win if you have more explosive offensive plays? Yes, probably. Does it mean you force your offense into depending on explosive plays to win? No it does not. I think that is the gap in Franklin's offensive philosophy. Well, that and he will know his offensive identity once he sees it.

 

[PAgeologist]

I can see it on the sideline:

CJF: "Mike, we need an explosive play right now."
MY "James, I'm probing something I see the defense doing and we can hammer it in the next series or two."
CJF: "I said now. Don't make me go KC on you!"
MY: "Yes sir."



I get it, explosive plays are an important part of the game. They need to be organic and fit within the flow of the game. Not just "Hey, we haven't taken a shot in 8 plays, its time." Analytics can be great if you use them correctly. Are you more likely to win if you have more explosive offensive plays? Yes, probably. Does it mean you force your offense into depending on explosive plays to win? No it does not. I think that is the gap in Franklin's offensive philosophy. Well, that and he will know his offensive identity once he sees it.

The key is balance. Grinding out drives vs explosive plays. Run vs pass. The one thing all the perennial top teams have in common is balance. Keep the defense guessing and off balance. Unable to key in on one thing.

Sometimes I honestly think Franklin gets his philosophy for offense from playing Madden on X Box.

 

[EddyS]

Mike Yurcich needs complete control of the offense, Franklin needs to stick to recruiting and logistics.

My impression is he pretty much does that with both offense and defense. Agree re Franklin “ staying away” from the game.

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

Jimmy Sexton is the same agent who played Auburn into giving Gus Malzahn a 7 year, 49 million extension based on some supposed interest from Arkansas

Two years later, Gus was fired and Auburn was on the hook for a 35 million buyout

Great job, Jimmy, you played Penn State too

 

[PAgeologist]

My impression is he pretty much does that with both offense and defense. Agree re Franklin “ staying away” from the game.

They shouldn't let Franklin in the stadium on game day. Leave him in SC for away games.

 

[Psu00]

It was 4th and a foot. Franklin has gone for it in much riskier and dumber spots. If you can’t put Clifford under center and push forward (and an RB pushing from behind) and get that, you don’t deserve to win. He played not to lose in that scenario.

At this point I don’t know what to make of this year. There’s no attention to detail, no fixing of issues, and no ‘extra effort’ by many players.

Case in point was your suggestion of the RB pushing the ball carrier from behind to get the extra yard. There was a point in the game yesterday where a PSU RB was stood up by defenders at the line. The refs allowed play to continue a few seconds to see if the RB could push the pile for some extra yardage.

MSU defenders ran over and pushed the backs of their players to push the pile backward. I remember watching 2 PSU O linemen, (who were right behind the RB), just put their hands on his back lightly as if to stabilize him but made absolutely no effort to push him from behind and move the pile. They just stood there literally watching.

It was right up there with the defense equivalent- watching Smith whiff on another tackle in the backfield. It was 4th and 2 or 3 (IiRC) for MSU in the second half and they went for it. Smith hit the runner behind the line but, as usual, didn’t wrap up. The runner just brushed him aside and continued on to get the first down. MSU scored a TD on that drive a few plays later. It should have been a turnover on downs.

It’s these type issues that can win or lose a game. MSU got 7 more points- all because Smith just refuses to tackle properly and the coaching staff apparently refuses to correct the problem.

At this point it’s been repeated so often that I’m not sure the coaching staff even sees it as a problem.

 

[lemonears]

They shouldn't let Franklin in the stadium on game day. Leave him in SC for away games.

It really doesn't matter. He just stands on the sidelines with his arms folded. He doesn't even participate in huddles during time outs. He is simply a fan during games. Probably the same at practice. He is totally a recruiter. Nothing else.

 

[PAgeologist]

It really doesn't matter. He just stands on the sidelines with his arms folded. He doesn't even participate in huddles during time outs. He is simply a fan during games. Probably the same at practice. He is totally a recruiter. Nothing else.

He really isn't that good at recruiting either. No viable depth in multiple positions. Awful OL for how many years. He has brought in some great skill players that were able to hide other team deficiencies.

The defense looks like it has turned a corner with some portal help.

Basically, the team seems to have too many work out warriors and missing a lot of fundamentals, toughness and football IQ.

 

[[email protected]]

Totally disagree with Giger that Franklin should have gone for it on 4th and 1 from the PSU 47 after MSU scored its first TD.

4th and 6 inches

 

[The real m.knox]

Poor coaching on full display as Penn State loses regular-season finale

James Franklin needs to do better. And to stop making excuses about facilities and everything else. Penn State is 11-10 over the past two seasons, and coaching issues have been a big part of the problem.

www.dkpittsburghsports.com

Caught that article this morning. Agree totally. Dead on.

The game plan needed to be as simple as "we are going to throw the ball." I fully expected it.

I remember Kerry Collins playing for the Giants. Came out against the Vikings to win the NFC by throwing it all day. Sound familiar??

"The Vikings' pass defense, in particular, was an issue; that unit had finished 28th in the league after allowing 3,913 yards through the air, fourth-most in the league.

The game unfolded just as the Giants had hoped. Quarterback Kerry Collins threw five touchdown passes, the first of which went to receiver Ike Hilliard on a 46-yard strike on the game's fourth play."

https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/news/...innesota-vikings-in-the-nfc-championship-game

 

[GrimReaper]

So whaddya' get from the product of a branch campus of Sooie Pig, "he needs to do better." Brilliant!

 

[Bvillebaron]

Totally disagree with Giger that Franklin should have gone for it on 4th and 1 from the PSU 47 after MSU scored its first TD.

Yeah the clown goes on this long tirade about Franklin this and Franklin that but then says Franklin didn’t lose the game yesterday. He claims Franklin made the wrong call by not going for it on 4th and inches down 7-0 nothing from their own 47 because it sent the “wrong” message to the team. Actually Franklin got it right by punting since the punt was downed at the MSU one. Apparently that sent the wrong messsge to Pry’s vaunted defense since they then let MSU go 99 yards to go up 14-0 with the drive starting with a 33 yard run off right tackle. I don’t agree with firing Yurcich after one season either. One of the big problems IMO has been the revolving door at OC which hurts continuity. Yurcich had to go with the QBs on the roster this season. Let’s give him a chance to see what he can do with QBs on the roster that he wants.

 

[Ram20]

The only way to avoid disaster next year is to bring in 5 quality o-linemen from to portal, recruit them like we do 4* cb's, and tell them there are 3 spots available, winner takes all, rest can portal out. Just big, physical, determined guys. I swear, I see the most pathetic effort on our O-line week in and week out. They don't even get a hand on the defender in a phone booth, he comes through clean and smacks Clifford, and then the linemen just turn around and don't even seem embarrassed or in any rush to help Clifford up? Just no pride in certain positions. Our D-linemen seem comfortable with just pushing the pocket a little, but not disrupting the QB, our linebackers are content just throwing a shoulder or pushing the running back once someone has already tackled him, the DB's just grab recievers, running backs totally willing to just go down on contact. The team just doesn't have pride. Get a tough offensive line and let them set the example. This team needs to get a little nasty and it starts there.

 

[Iionscott]

Mike Yurcich needs complete control of the offense, Franklin needs to stick to recruiting and logistics.

Who says MY doesn’t have complete control? He isn’t calling plays. But, There is no head coach in the country that does not give suggestions during the course of the game or review a game plan during the week.

 

[84lion]

Jimmy Sexton is the same agent who played Auburn into giving Gus Malzahn a 7 year, 49 million extension based on some supposed interest from Arkansas

Two years later, Gus was fired and Auburn was on the hook for a 35 million buyout

Great job, Jimmy, you played Penn State too

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner! Wonder what "percentage" Sexton gets for these "extensions?"

 

[DELion]

The key is balance. Grinding out drives vs explosive plays. Run vs pass. The one thing all the perennial top teams have in common is balance. Keep the defense guessing and off balance. Unable to key in on one thing.

Sometimes I honestly think Franklin gets his philosophy for offense from playing Madden on X Box.

Coaching football needs to be approached like a chess match. Franklin is no Bobby Fischer. That was all too obvious with the pathetic inability to make adjustments in the Illinois loss.

 

[helixville]

Good discussion here.

1. Giger is a total jack ***.
2. MY is not the problem. We don’t have the players to run MY offense right now IMO. If I remember right MY didn’t use TEs often at osu and used an h back like a Kyle juschak frequently. I know the oline is poor but our TEs and WRs don’t block worth a dam either. Hell the only RB that was competent in pass protection was Cain. As an offensive unit we do not maintain our blocks with consistency. This is a systemic problem. I know physicality and technique are important but so is desire to finish the block and maintain contact as long as possible. We lack that “desire” to finish blocks. We don’t have that mind set and must be a result of being candy asses at practice. The coaching mentality needs to change starting with some old school okies and best on best drills.